After eight years as a public school special education teacher, Alex made the courageous decision to step away from the traditional classroom to create something more meaningful — for herself, her daughter, and the next generation of learners. She is now leading the new Forest Ferns Co-op, a preschool homeschool program rooted in nature-based education, all while taking her Outdoor Classroom Teacher Certification.

Amid fresh flowers, apple pie, and a circle of parents who understand, we rediscovered the wild wonder of childhood — and the ways Ocean State Kids continues to grow, evolve, and rise with every season.